Chapter 127: A Feast Awaits

Chapter 127: A Feast Awaits

The next morning, Lin Shu, uncharacteristically, rose early. Yet, despite her early start, she found herself, as usual, the last one out of bed.

Zhou Ye had already departed, and Lin Dashan, farm tools slung over his shoulder, was poised to head to the fields.

“Well, well, look who’s up bright and early today, my girl!” Lin Dashan chuckled, a playful glint in his eye.

Lin Shu: …

Even her father had joined the ranks of her tormentors. Was there truly no one left in this family who wouldn’t tease her?

A closer look confirmed it: everyone else was already bustling with activity.

Her father waved goodbye and set off for the fields, her mother was cleaning the chicken coop, and Lin Xiaopu, in the courtyard, was diligently practicing her slingshot aim with firewood sticks. Only Lin Shu had just finished her morning ablutions.

He Guixiang glanced her way. “A Ye went to your Uncle Zhao San’s place first thing this morning,” she announced.

Lin Shu retorted instantly, “Mother, why bring up A Ye? I wasn’t asking about him.”

Lin Xiaopu, engrossed in her bamboo slingshot, shook her head with a knowing, grown-up air.

*Big sis says one thing but means another. Everyone knows her eyes swept the courtyard the moment she woke up—it’s obvious who she was looking for.*

But Lin Xiaopu, having learned her lesson, dared not tease her sister in front of others, lest she provoke another bout of embarrassment and annoyance.

He Guixiang smiled, nodding. “Yes, yes, A Shu didn’t ask. Your mother just felt like telling you.”

Lin Shu: …

*Oh, well. Her relationship with A Ye was an open book now. If her mother and the others enjoyed teasing, so be it. She used to hear plenty of risqué jokes back in the day; why was she suddenly so shy over a few playful jabs?*

Lin Shu was about to head out to inspect the building site, but before she could take a single step, He Guixiang called her back, explaining, “A Ye isn’t there right now. Building a house from scratch requires a lot of preparation—large bundles of thatch, and wood for wall posts and beams. He went with your Uncle Zhao San to fell trees in the back hills early this morning. The felled logs need to be treated for insects, stripped of bark, and sun-dried before they can be used for beams and posts. And before setting the beams, the foundation must be tamped solid. Just these preliminary preparations will take quite some time…”

When Zhou Ye had replaced the roof previously, speed was paramount, so he had borrowed plenty of dried thatch from many households. But for a new construction, the amount of thatch needed was far greater. Besides the roof, the walls themselves were constructed from thatch mixed with mud. Borrowing dried thatch from others was no longer feasible. They had to cut fresh thatch from the fields, then sun-dry it for two or three days to prevent mold before it could be used for the thatched house.

Early this morning, Zhao Laosan and the other three had split into two teams: one to cut thatch, the other to fell trees.

Zhou Ye, possessing an axe, joined Zhao Laosan for tree felling. This task was more strenuous than cutting thatch, making him the ideal person for it.

In the village, iron tools were precious. A large iron axe was expensive to forge, and few households owned one. Most villagers used billhooks or stone axes for chopping wood. Zhao Laosan, for instance, was using a borrowed stone axe.

Upon learning that Zhou Ye had gone to fell trees, Lin Shu quietly retracted her foot, which had been poised to step outside.

Unable to see A Ye or know his situation, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had heeded her advice to take it easy while working.

Last night, after Uncle Zhao San and Aunt Lin had left, she had specifically spoken with Zhou Ye, urging him not to be too diligent in his work.

Lin Shu wasn’t trying to teach Zhou Ye to shirk his duties.

If Zhou Ye worked with full, unreserved effort, he could accomplish the work of five men. But similarly, his physical exertion would be immense, and he would get hungry faster. She had already instructed Aunt Lin to prepare enough food for Zhou Ye for three people. That way, Zhou Ye only needed to exert three times the effort of an average person. Any more than that, and he would be hungrier but eat less, ultimately suffering for it.

Moreover, if he did too much, others would do less. If everyone realized he was even more capable than they had imagined, they might subconsciously slack off and pile all the work onto him alone. What then?

Lin Shu agreed to Zhou Ye helping, but she didn’t want him to overexert himself.

Regarding this, Lin Xiaopu thought her sister was worrying needlessly.

*Brother A Ye had long ago mastered the art of “eating so much at someone’s house that they’d stare in shock and never dare ask him to work again” just to avoid helping others. Would he really shortchange himself?*

*But one couldn’t blame Brother A Ye for devising such a plan back then. After all, those who sought his help merely wanted to exploit his strength and hard work without offering any compensation. If he had truly started helping like that, wouldn’t the villagers have been constantly asking for his assistance? Especially with a father at home who loved making blind promises, Brother A Ye had no choice but to come up with his own solution.*

“We have a lot of food to prepare today. Mother, let’s borrow another table so everyone can sit down to eat. Luckily, we have the four small bamboo stools A Ye made, so we just need to borrow one low table. We smaller guests can sit on the bamboo stools, and let the men have the big table and benches inside,” Lin Shu suggested to He Guixiang.

When villagers helped build houses, they weren’t particular—a bowl of food for the laborers, and they’d squat on the ground to eat. After all, when building a house, there was no house yet, let alone tables or stools. But Lin Shu still wanted to be as hospitable as possible.

She knew Aunt Lin was still nursing a grievance over Uncle Zhao San’s recent setbacks, so she wanted to help Aunt Lin alleviate that resentment. Besides, being a good host this time would benefit her too. If word got out about their hospitality, it would be much easier to find help in the future if she ever needed to build something.

In the future, the family couldn’t rely solely on A Ye for everything. No matter how capable he was, he was still just one person.

He Guixiang thought it was an excellent idea and agreed immediately. “Alright, I’ll go borrow a low table in a bit.”

Lin Shu added, “If Aunt Lin arrives later, Mother, please help entertain her first. Xiao Pu and I will go to the back hills to pick some mushrooms and wild vegetables to add to the meal.”

He Guixiang assented, then suddenly remembered something and quickly added, “A Shu, the three fish you wanted—A Ye already caught them for you. They’re in the bucket.”

Lin Shu paused, curious. “How did he catch them alone? Did Father help?”

Lin Xiaopu immediately blurted out, “Hehe, it was me, it was me!”

He Guixiang smiled. “A Ye rolled up his pants and stood by the fish pond, submerged the basket in the water, then Xiao Pu threw in some water grass. When the fish swam over, A Ye quickly lifted the basket. He was fast, and he actually managed to catch fish that way.”

Lin Shu fell silent upon hearing this. If she had known A Ye could catch fish like that, why had she bothered with fish traps or dismantling bamboo fences?

Three large grass carp swam in the wooden bucket. Lin Shu stepped closer for a look—they were all sizable. Thinking of the fresh wildflowers in the ceramic vase on the table, her lips curved into an irrepressible smile.

A Ye was already so busy, yet he still remembered to catch fish for her, and even didn’t forget the bunch of wildflowers… If a celestial being descended, wouldn’t they be moved too?

“Big sis, it’s time to go.”

Lin Xiaopu, bamboo basket in hand, called out to her.

Lin Shu quickly shouldered her own basket, and together with Lin Xiaopu, headed towards the back hills.

Not long after reaching the back hills, they heard the vigorous “heave-ho” sounds of woodcutting.

After felling the wood, it still had to be transported downhill, so they wouldn’t choose a spot too far away. However, the “heave-ho” sounds weren’t coming from Zhou Ye—it was Uncle Zhao San who was vocalizing.

Zhou Ye always worked in silence, as if even the heaviest and most exhausting tasks became effortless for him.

“Big sis, they’re over there. Brother A Ye is there too. Should we go take a look?” Lin Xiaopu asked with a mischievous grin.

Lin Shu ruffled her hair but didn’t indulge her. “Let’s focus on our task. We need to pick wild vegetables and mushrooms first. We won’t pick the Grass Jelly Plant today.”

Lin Xiaopu was puzzled. “Big sis, why not?”

“As I mentioned before, we can’t give too much all at once. It’s different from hosting Old Man Liao—these helpers will be working for several days. If the food is too lavish on the first day, and simpler later, it won’t feel like a pleasant surprise but might instead disappoint. So we’ll take it slow. We’ll prepare the home-style dishes Aunt Lin mentioned yesterday, plus a cold bamboo fungus salad mixed with the cucumbers Aunt Lin brought. Later, we’ll pick some red amaranth—what the village often calls ‘han vegetable’—and make a stir-fried garlic red amaranth dish. For soup, we’ll still make Termitomyces soup…”

Lin Xiaopu giggled upon hearing this.

*And big sis called this not giving too much? With this spread, it’s even more lavish than a festival meal. Though there’s not much meat, we still have fish, right?*

Lin Shu thought of something else and added, “Later, we’ll also pick some fish mint and make a cold fish mint salad. Although fish mint this season isn’t as tender as in early spring and tastes slightly bitter, many villagers love it. We’ll add this dish too—whether they eat it or not is up to them…”

By the time the two returned, laden with their harvest, Lin Zhaodi had indeed arrived and was busy in the courtyard with He Guixiang.

It was still early for breakfast, but the rice could be steamed first—the longer it steamed, the softer and tastier it would be. All the dishes could also be washed, cut, and prepared in advance.

While taking off her basket, Lin Shu noticed two large baskets, filled to the brim, in a corner of the courtyard.

Seeing Lin Shu glance at the baskets, Lin Zhaodi quickly wiped her hands and walked over, saying, "A Shu, I just got here and haven’t had time to tidy these things up yet. Does it look messy?"

"It’s no trouble, Aunt Lin. I was just curious and took a look," Lin Shu replied.

Lin Zhaodi explained, "The basket on the left is filled with grains, and the one on the right contains Uncle Zhao San's and my eating utensils. The freshly picked cucumbers and leafy greens we gathered today are also in there. Since Uncle Zhao San and I will be eating here over the next few days while the house is being built, I thought I'd just bring our dishes along."

As she spoke, she sorted through the baskets.

The left basket contained a bag of brown rice, half a bag of flour, and some legumes, mainly broad beans and mung beans, along with a fair amount of dried vegetables and dried radishes.

The other basket held a more varied assortment. At the bottom were bowls, utensils, and clay pots, while a vegetable basket lay tilted to one side on top, filled with seven or eight fresh cucumbers and three large bundles of fresh green vegetables squeezed together.

Lin Shu was slightly surprised. Had Aunt Lin brought over all the belongings she had received from the family property division?

But if these were all their possessions, they seemed far too few.

Lin Zhaodi seemed to notice her surprise and, without any embarrassment, said frankly, "Along with two sets of bedding, a few sets of everyday clothes, and a string of cash coins given by my in-laws, these are the entirety of Uncle Zhao San’s and my possessions."

While others might consider family matters something to be hidden, Lin Zhaodi felt that if the Zhao family dared to act as they did, they shouldn’t fear others talking about it.

She had already discussed the division of assets with Sister-in-law He earlier. The Lin family matriarch had been biased, and even Lin Second Brother’s family hadn’t received much. The two women found common ground in their experiences, and Sister-in-law He even shared many money-saving tips.

"Aunt Lin, the beginning is always the hardest. Once you get through these tough times, things will only get better. But remember what I told you before—while there’s little else I can help with, I have quite a bit of money saved up, all earned by myself. If you ever find yourself short, just come to me!"

Lin Zhaodi nodded and asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "A Shu, aren’t you worried that if you lend me money, I might not be able to pay it back?"

"The money I’m lending you is extra money—money I don’t need for now. If you can’t pay it back in a year, then take two years. If two years isn’t enough, then three or five years. There will come a time when you can repay it. I’m willing to lend you money because I trust your character and Uncle Zhao San’s."

Lin Zhaodi was momentarily lost in thought. After a moment, she looked at Lin Shu and suddenly asked, "A Shu, do you think it was right for me to pressure your Uncle Zhao San to leave the Zhao family?"

She hadn’t explicitly said anything, but by telling Zhao San that she couldn’t go on living like this and suggesting divorce or even allowing him to divorce her, she had essentially forced him to make a choice.

In the past, villagers would describe Zhao San as honest and kind-hearted. But after this incident, some now added "unfilial son" when mentioning him.

Lin Zhaodi was resolute and unwavering—once she left the Zhao family, she would never return. But she feared that one day Zhao San might regret it.

She knew she shouldn’t ask such a question of someone younger, but she felt that Lin Shu, having come from the capital, had broader horizons and greater wisdom. Subconsciously, she set Lin Shu apart from the ignorant village girls.

Lin Shu didn’t offer any judgment but instead asked, "Aunt Lin, do you feel happier and more at ease now, after leaving the family, compared to before?"

Lin Zhaodi nodded. "Aside from the first two years after marrying Zhao San, I’ve never felt as carefree and happy as I do now. A Shu, do you know? For a long time, I felt like my life had no purpose. Others were living their lives, but I was just counting down the days. After leaving the family, I feel like my life has purpose again! Even if life after leaving is harder than it was in the Zhao family, I’m not afraid of hardship. I’m sure I can make my life better and better!"

Lin Shu’s eyes curved into a smile. "In that case, what are you still worried about, Aunt Lin? Heaven rewards those who live earnestly. I’m sure you’ll achieve your wishes, Aunt Lin."

Hearing this, Lin Zhaodi thought of the years she had spent in the Zhao family and the gossip in the village, and her nose tingled with emotion.

During her years in Sweetwater Village, she had encountered both malice and kindness. But the kindness she received always urged her to endure—to bear with it, and eventually, the hardship would pass.

Her parents and sisters were the same, afraid that she would be rejected by her in-laws. Every time she visited her family, they would remind her to be diligent in her in-laws’ home.

Everyone told her to endure, but A Shu was different.

"Aunt Lin, do you know how to clean fish?" Lin Shu suddenly asked. "We can start pan-frying the fish once the rice is steamed, but the fish needs to be marinated first."

Lin Zhaodi's sentimental mood vanished immediately, replaced by a chuckle. "Leave it to me. I’m quite skilled at preparing fish!"

…

It wasn’t yet time for breakfast, but among the workers helping Zhao Laosan, a teenage boy, about fourteen or fifteen, suddenly sniffed the air and turned to Brother Zhou Ye, calling out, "Brother Zhou Ye, what a delicious smell! It’s coming from your courtyard. Can you smell it?"

The boy was the second son of Liu Second from the village. Liu Second had three sons and was friends with Zhao San, so he sent his second son to help. Though the boy was young and not as strong as the grown men when it came to heavy labor, he was quick and handy at tasks like cutting grass and mixing mud. He always pulled up the most weeds in the fields.

Knowing that Zhao Laosan would need a lot of thatch for the roof, Liu Second sent his second son to help. The boy didn’t eat as much as his older brother, so by sending him, Liu Second could provide assistance without costing Zhao Laosan too much food.

At that moment, Liu Erzhuang was laying thatch, while Zhou Ye, who had already cut down several trees, was preparing the lumber. Hearing the words "your courtyard," Zhou Ye paused briefly before replying cheerfully, "That’s Sister-in-law He and A Shu preparing breakfast. You’re in for a treat these next few days."